Science Fiction

LIT341

Exploration in science fiction of transhumanism, called by Francis Fukuyama "the world's most dangerous idea." Critical inquiry into the transhumanist imperative that Homo sapiens can and should evolve further through advanced technology, including the claim that death is not inevitable. Texts include Greg Bear, Blood Music; Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and film adaptation of Blade Runner; Shirow Masamune, Ghost in the Shell, graphic novel and film; Vernon Vinge, Rainbows End; Stanislaw Lem's The Cyberiad; Bruce Sterling, Holy Fire; Octavia Butler, Dawn; Greg Egan, Permutation City; Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game; and selected short stories. One course.